Burial-vault



(No Model.)`

CT. C. WYATT 8v J. K. WILLIAMSON.

BURIAL VAULI.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE C. VYATT AND JOSEPH K. VILLIAMSON, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

BU RIAL-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,985, dated September 22, 1891.

Application tiled .April 14, 1891. Serial No.388,888. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE O. VYATT and JOSEPH K. WILLIAMSON, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burial-Vaults, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein lo the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to burial-vaults, and has for its object the production of a new and improved vault which shall be perfectly air and water tight and secure from the molestation .of.vandals, and which shall be inexpensive and capable of being readily and easily constructed either above or beneath the ground.

The invention comprises a vault having an upper continuous groove or recess the walls of which have coincident recesses or indentations, and a cover provided with a continuous tongue corresponding with and designed to lit in said groove or recess and having transverse holes or openings extending therethrough and located coincident with the recesses or indentations in the walls of said groove or recess, whereby liquid cement will Iirmly lock said cover in place, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim. Y

In the acompanying drawings, Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken at right 'angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 2L is a detail sectional View showing a portion of the connectingtongue and coincident hole and recesses or indentations, the same being taken on the Fig. 3 represents a grooveforming bar employed in making the base for the vault.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body or main portion of our vault, which is composed entirely of cement, the ordinary Portland cement being preferably employed. The body A consists of two side and two end walls forming a central chamber or compartment d, wherein the box containing the casket is designed to be placed. In the upper end of body A is formed a continuous groove or recess d', and in the parallel side walls d2 thereof are formed opposite recesses or indentations a3.

Bis the arched cover, also composed entirely of cement, and from its lower edge projects a continuous tongue b, which corresponds with the groove or recess d', wherein it designed to snuglyiit. In this tongue are formed transverse holes orl openings b', which when the cover is in position are coincident with the recesses or indentations a3 in the walls of said groove or recess. Before placing the cover in position liquid cement is poured into the groove or recess d,and thus when the tongue enters said groove or recess the liquid cement will pass through the holes or openings b and be forced into the recesses or indentations a3, and when the same hardens the coveris tirml y locked or held in position.

Our improved vault is applicable for use both above and beneath the ground. In Fig. 2 we have shown the same as being built beneath the earths surface. In thus building the vault the course pursued is as follows: The grave is lmade in the ordinary way, the opening being somewhat larger than usual. We first prepare a bed or base C of cement by placing the same between two longitudinal parallel L-shaped bars D, located at the sides of the grave. The bars D are beveled or inclined on the upper surfaces of their horizontal portions, so that when the cement becomes sufliciently hard they can be readily removed, thus leaving grooves or recesses d in the under surface ofthe bed or base C. While the cement is hardening, grooves or recesses d d2 are formed in the upper surface of the bed or base parallel with the sides and ends thereof. The box containing the casket is then lowered'onto the bed or base, and the body A of the vault is built up around it by pouring in the cement which composes the saine, said cement entering the grooves or recesses d d cl2 in the under and upper surfaces of the bed or base, and thus the body A is firmly locked to the latter. Before the cement comprising the body hardens the groove or recess a is formed in its upper end, and the recesses or indent-ations d3 are chiseled out from the walls of said groove or recess.

IOO

position, its tongue snugly fitting said groove or recess and being firmly locked by the liquid cement entering the transverse holes or openings b and the recesses or indentations a3. The Same course is followed When the vault is to be located above the ground, save that a fence or boarding must be employed to hold the cement composing the body A in place during the formation of the latter.

The advantages of our invention are apparent, and it will be especiallyobserved that as constructed the Vault is solid and air and water tight, is much cheaper than any other known forni of vault, can be quickly made, and is permanent, secure, and durable.

XVe claim as our inventionrlhe herein-described improved burial-vault, having its body composed entirely of cement and provided with an upper conti n uous groove or recess, the Walls of which have opposite recesses or indentations, and a cover also coinposed entirely of cement and having1 a depending` tongue fitting said groove or recess and provided with transverse holes or opening coincident with said recesses or indentations, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We atTix our signal u res in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE C. VYATT. JOSEPH K. XVLLTAMSON. \Vit11esses:

M. D. MoOsKnn, R. V. ALLEN. 

